Seems Geelong and surrounds have enough tourist dollars and don't need any more. How ironic that Geelong is going to suffer and has already from a lot of manufacturing closing down and more so when Ford motor company closes. I would have thought outside money would be good money. Perhaps when summer is over and the tourists staying at the overpriced caravan parks go home, Mr Grant may change his mind....
GREY nomads are thumbing their noses at the law and holidaying free despite a vow by authorities to crack down on illegal camping.
Fines for tourists sleeping on public land have risen 300 per cent in some parts of the state.
Campers have been seen leaving waste at top tourism sites, including at the world-famous Bells Beach.
Travelling retirees say backpackers in mini-vans give free campers a bad name.
But the message from Victorias tourism chiefs is that anyone, regardless of age or mode of transport, wanting to have a holiday paid for by the public purse should go away.
Tourism Greater Geelong and the Bellarine head Roger Grant said travellers in vans that cost some $300,000 should not be crying poor nor expect to camp for free.
They expect ratepayers to subsidise their holiday, do they? Mr Grant asked.
On being told that free camping campaigners have threatened to boycott major tourism towns, including Torquay and Lorne, he said: My response to that is, thats fine go away. Not all tourism is good tourism.
This idea that we all have a God-given right to camp at beaches or up bush tracks is quite simply nonsense, Mr Grant said.
I free camp most of the time but do understand that there is a time and place for everything. Maybe this is the type of free camping Mr Grant is getting his knickers in a knot about.
Commodifiction. As soon as government works out a sure-fire way to issue permits and charge for overnight stays along highways they will do it and with the blessing of accommodation providers.
There is a thread about stock routes, where one federal government qango is vying to 'manage' (read as control) the land along stock routes. Of course there are always good reasons put forward. I believe that could easily result in restrictions, camping permits and charges to camp anywhere along major sections of highways defined as stock routes.
Governments can forget that freedom doesn't just apply to speech.
This morning (09 Jan 2015) Steve Martin on ABC 774 radio is seeking "grey nomads" who feel they are being unfairly targeted by comments that have been made about "free camping" to give him a call and put your point of view.
Phone 1300 222 774
Cheers - John
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Mr Grant is an arrogant prick who shold find himself a new job. All tourism, especially in an are in economic decline like his, is good.
Who the hell does he think he is with his comments - obviously hes never camped - freedom or in C/Parks before - or maybe he gets free accommodation back handers from his mates in the C/P industry??
What a total a...hole!!! Geelong is off our list of places to visit
Does anyone have an email address for this "person" or his political masters - maybe an email campaign to them might sit them up from their taxpayer funded leather chair and native timber desk along with the rest of their taxpayer funded perks and huge salaries with expense accounts.
Grrrrrrr............these ****s make me so angry
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
I love to free camp ;But will also pay money to go place I want to see has we can't expect to get free camp in a major city . Geelong been there no need for a return visit .
Mr Grant is an arrogant prick who shold find himself a new job. All tourism, especially in an are in economic decline like his, is good.
Who the hell does he think he is with his comments - obviously hes never camped - freedom or in C/Parks before - or maybe he gets free accommodation back handers from his mates in the C/P industry??
What a total a...hole!!! Geelong is off our list of places to visit
Does anyone have an email address for this "person" or his political masters - maybe an email campaign to them might sit them up from their taxpayer funded leather chair and native timber desk along with the rest of their taxpayer funded perks and huge salaries with expense accounts.
"Fines for tourists sleeping on public land have risen 300 per cent in some parts of the state."
I am wondering how they know you are a tourist if you are sleeping on public land? Are they also going to fine the homeless who also sleep on public land in parks, under bridges etc.
I sleep in my caravan which obviously could identify me as a tourist.
frank
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Avagreatday.
Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
...about the only tourist attraction is their Mayor with his multi coloured CCoockkyyy comb brushover, every which way, for a coiffure/hairdo....but I'm not into bird watching...Geelong does have one excellent feature for Grey Nomads..the road out.......Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Friday 9th of January 2015 04:59:54 PM
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'Without Going You Get No Where'....written across the rear of my Jayco Caravan.
These so called tourism chiefs should have a re think how much employment the caravan industry creates per annum, its many millions of dollars. When Ford closes up in Victoria a Caravan manufacturer is going into one of their factories, its said that some of these workers will have the skills to be employed in the caravan industry, less unemployment in Victoria.
If bylaws are been broken regarding camping and littering fine the offenders, I have no problem with that but don't cast aspersions over everyone. If its such a problem employ more bylaw enforcement officers and create more employment in the Geelong and surrounding areas to have these bylaws enforced.
Its a long time since we visited Geelong and I don't remember much about the area and usually stay in Caravan parks but the freedom to stop at an alternate camp spot is an Australian right that Caravan parks will try to stop through their mates in Councils, and here in Geelong they have obviously got one of their mates into the Tourism officer role but if what he is is accused of saying is true he is obviously a naive overpaid bureaucrat who has absolutely no understanding of Tourism and the benefit to other businesses from having all types of tourists visit the Geelong area.
Lets not penalise an area already under stress because of one idiot I am confident businesses in the region will make you most welcome and so will the local people.
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So now hospitality comes at a price? Not all GNs are wealthy and free camping, for many, is the difference between pursuing a dream and simply existing. Many small towns encourage free camping for the obvious economic benefits derived from those that do more than just drive through. It is a naive and flawed business model that looks only at costs and ignores benefits. There are those that trash this beautiful country and who deserve our censure but don't unleash on the very people who live for a landscape that is free of garbage and degradation.
Cheers
Craig
If theres a dollar to bemade someone will always put the hand out n try get it by hook or by crook lol. With SO many GNs on the road nowadays as well as so many Vans owned , being built or sold the message goes out that sez " hands outto the GNs , they are loaded".
Worrying part for some of us latecommers is , how long is there left or how much of freecamping is left ??.
Have some brilliant memories as a teenager camping on the banks of certain rivers and lakes free of charge as well as fishing free.
How much of that "Free" is left today ??.
Its getting more n more a user pay society and I dont mind so much if the value is there but is it ??.
Most decent Van parks come weekends n holidays if you havent prebooked are chockers so that in itself is sending a message out to those asking the question of who to hit next??.
Getting to be a wee bit of a crowded society in places ey :).
Pretty simple solution for nomads ... travel and camp in the free and low cost areas provided and, if so inclined, support the van parks that are to your liking. This way investors and communities will see there is demand for simple parks that do not require the facilities to attract families. Don't travel to Geelong and the Bellarine unless prepared to camp in a park; the community has made it clear that it is not an RV friendly area. Grizzling and expecting them to change to accommodate your desire for free and low cost camping is a waste of energy. Nomads of all people should respect the right of the Geelong community to set and enforce their local laws. There are plenty of rural and regional communities that welcome your visits and support.
There are literally thousands of camps like you mention from your youth still waiting in this fantastic country.
And I truly believe the majority of them will continue to exist for many years to come. Some are no-cost and some are low-cost. Most will have limited facilities but will be great places to spend a week or two.
The so-called "camps" that are mentioned in threads like this are within places such as Geelong or along the Great Ocean Road etc and will be the ones that will continually be forced to stop "servicing" the 'travelling consumer' looking for somewhere to stop for a day or two in their travels - but who are not willing to pay to be within, or close to, a town.
They are not actual camping spots but merely either parking spaces, wayside stops, rest stops or picnic areas that were put in place by councils/communities to service the local community and the passers through.
There was some latitude allowed for travellers passing through for them to 'stop overnight and rest' ... but that has been abused by the increasing traffic and the increasingly poor manners of so many of these 'travellers'.
It is not at all unexpected, or unusual, for local communities to become tired of seeing their areas being misused by people. They do not see the token traveller's expenditure at some of the business in their town and therefore only see the residue of those who have misused their facilities. They also do not see, or differentiate between, the backpacker or older person. Just the crowded usage and residue of those wanderers.
From what I have witnessed in my travelling, over the past six or so years in particular, in many ways makes me understand the stance of these 'tourist towns' communities and officials. I too usually find the cluttered campervans/caravans/motorhomes somewhat of an eyesore along a foreshore - particularly if these vehicles have taken up 'residence' for a night or two.
Conversely, I find the lack of 'suitable services' for my style of travel provided by caravan parks in, and about, these sort of towns, equally frustrating. I do not want to stay in a 'bells & whistles' van park for $35+ per night for a small plot of grass and access to a shower and toilet.
The only solution I find is to travel inland, away from the 'tourist towns/attractions' and be appreciated by the small communities who welcome my presence and expenditure.
Obviously, if I do want to visit 'tourist attractions' I have to swallow my pride and stay in these van parks and pay their fees for facilities beyond what I need - or expect.
The problem is obviously something of a conundrum - I cannot see the ability to simply pull up in a rest area etc and spend a night continuing. Thankfully, I do not find that I would be likely to do so anyway - I find "sleeping" in rest areas very unfulfilling.
Cheers - and happy camping in the wild blue, red dirt yonder - John
[edit: Rocky can't spell]
-- Edited by rockylizard on Saturday 10th of January 2015 10:21:35 PM
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Larry - You made a comment under mine about WA Premier. In fact his Tourism Minister spent 5 days with his Chief of Staff (a guy) free camping with WA Caravan Clubs in 2012.
As a result rest stops in WA have had a lot of money spend on up-grading them, some on the major raods with water (if available) well constructed drop toilets (with paper and service each day) and flat surfaces for tenting or caravanning. They have also opened quite a few new ones. Congratulations to the Minister - Dr Kim Haimes
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
...about the only tourist attraction is their Mayor with his multi coloured CCoockkyyy comb brushover, every which way, for a coiffure/hairdo....but I'm not into bird watching...Geelong does have one excellent feature for Grey Nomads..the road out.......Hoo Roo
-- Edited by Goldfinger on Friday 9th of January 2015 04:59:54 PM
He is 'out there', isn't he.
I imagine that the hair is to raise his height. What about the false abs? I didn't know that the cosmetic operation existed.
This is the ongoing debate about free camps and CPs. I agree there are pigs out there that mess the place up, however I think if we approached the service clubs eg. Lions, Rotary etc to undertake a project such as setting up a low cost camp site (say in the local showgrounds) there would be great options for GNs. We stayed in a Lions sponsored showground free camp in our last trip and it was a great 2 nights, maybe a letter from us to these places would be a winner, even at Geelong, I'm sure if a country town can have service clubs the "big city" will have a few.
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